Asahi Shimbun May 2007 Opinion Polls

Dates Conducted

May 12 and 13, 2007

Released

May 16, 2007

Methodology

The poll was conducted by telephone on May 12 and 13, 2007, of voters from across Japan using a three-stage random sampling method (the Asahi RDD). The total number of those polled was 1005, with a response rate of 57%. The numbers in [ ] are the percentages of those polled as compared to the entire population of those who answered. The numbers in ( ) are the results from a poll conducted on April 14 and 15, 2007.

Key Issues

July Upper House Election
Support of LDP

Disclaimer

The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Asahi Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use

Survey:

Q1. Do you support the Abe cabinet?

Support	43 (40)
Do not support	33 (38)

QS1. Why? (Choose one of the following.) (The results in the left column are those 43% who answered “support,” and the numbers in the right column are the 33% who answered “do not support.”)

Abe is the Prime Minister	18%[8]	6%[2]
The cabinet is primarily composed of LDP members	21%[9]	28%[9]
Policies of the cabinet	26%[11]	59%[20]
Just because	32%[14]	6%[2]

Q2. Which political party do you currently support?

Liberal Democratic Party	33%(31)
Democratic Party of Japan	14%(14)
Komeito	4%(4)
Japan Communist Party	2%(3)
Social Democratic Party	1%(2)
The People's New Party	0%(0)
The New Party of Japan	0%(0)
Other	1%(0)
Do not support any party	36%(41)
No answer/do not know	9%(5)

Q3. There will be an election for the House of Councilors in July. How interested are you in this House of Councilors election? (Choose one.)

Very interested	23
Somewhat interested	47
Not very interested	25
Not at all interested	5

Q4. During the House of Councilors election, votes will be cast in electoral districts and proportional-representational blocks. Have you decided which party’s candidate you will vote for in your electoral district?

Have decided	37
Have not decided	61

Q5. Next, have you decided for the proportional-representation block?

Have decided	30
Have not decided	66

Q6. If the election were held today, which party’s candidate would you vote for in your electoral district? Please answer with the party’s name.

Liberal Democratic Party	31
Democratic Party of Japan	22
Komeito	4
Japan Communist Party	3
Social Democratic Party	1
The People's New Party	0
The New Party of Japan	0
Others	0
Independent	1
No answer/do not know	38

Q7. If the election were held today, which party or party’s candidate would you vote for in your proportional-representation block? Please answer with the party’s name.

Liberal Democratic Party	28
Democratic Party of Japan	21
Komeito	4
Japan Communist Party	3
Social Democratic Party	2
The People's New Party	0
The New Party of Japan	0
Others	1
No answer/do not know	41

Q8. Would you like the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners to hold a majority of seats in the House of Councilors as a result of the election? Or would you like the Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties will hold a majority of seats?

LDP and coalition parties	32
DPJ and other opposition parties	44

Q9. Do you prefer a continuation of the administration [in power], composed primarily of the Liberal Democratic Party? Or do you prefer a change, to an administration composed primarily of the Democratic Party of Japan?

Administration composed of LDP	36
Administration composed of DPJ	30